Automatic hose holder



Jan. 12 1926.

R. J. MITCHELL AUTOMATIC nosn HOLDER Filed Nov. 6

gnoentoz 'Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES ROBERT J. MITCHELL, OI? RICHMOND, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC HOSE HOLDER.

Application filed November 6, 1924,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Rosana J. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Ray and State of ltl lSSOull,have invented certain new and useful In'iprovements in Automatic HoseHolders, of which the following is a specitication,

This invention relates to a device for supporting the nozzle of a gardenhose and automatically moving the same in an arc, hack and forth, so todirect the stream of water issuing from the nozzle, uniformly over arelatively wide area, the object of the invention being to obviate thenecessity of holding the nozzle and manually directing the stream ofwater.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a device for the purposestated which may be set up in position for use at any place desired andwhich will be entirely automatic in its action so that no attention onthe part of the user will be required, means being provided whereby theforce of the stream of water issuing from the nozzle will be utilized toeffect automatic operation of the device to move the nozzle back andforth.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the nozzle holdingmeans of the device that it will be adapted to support the hose nozzleat different angles so that the stream of water may be directed asdesired.

Another object of the invention is to so cons-struct the nozzle holdingmeans that the nozzle may be readily assembled therewith in variouspositions of angular adjustment and readily disconnected therefrom, asoccasion may require and without the employment of tools of anycharacter whatsoever.

The device embodying the invention is so constructed and operates insuch a manner as to support the hose nozzle and cause back and forthmovement thereof in an arc, and the invention has, as a further object,to provide means whereby the extent of angular movement of the nozzlemay be varied so that the stream of water issuing from the nozzle may bedirected over a relatively narrow or a relatively wide area, as may bedesired.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1. is a view in side elevation of the device embodying theinvention in use.

Figure 2 a front elevation of the device.

Serial No. 748,158.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device illustrating in full, dot anddash, and dotted lines, the various positions assumed by the parts ofthe device in its operation.

Figure l is detail vertical transverse sectional view through the hosenozzle clamping means of the device, taken substantially on the line t-dof Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The device includes a standard which is indicated in general by thenumeral 1 and which comprises two sections, one indicated by the numeral2 and the other by the numeral 2-3. The section 2 is of tubular form andis provided at its lower end with a blade 4i, and above the blade with across piece 5, against which pressure may be exerted by the feet of theuser to force the blade i .into the ground, as clearly shown in Figure1, and thereby establish the standard in upright position, as well asthe component parts of the structure supported thereby, as willpresently be explained. The section 3 of the standard comprises a head 6which is of yoke formation and is provided with a shank 7 in which isanchored the upper end of a rod 8 rotatably fitted into the upper end ofthe tubular section 2 of the standard, the head 6 being, in this manner,mounted for swinging or oscillatory movement a suitable distance abovethe ground surface, when the device is set up for use.

The head or yoke 6 upstands vertically from the shank 7 and constitutesside members which are indicated by the numeral 9, and journaled forrotation in these side members is a shaft 10 upon which is fixed a gear1.1. The said gear 11 meshes with a pinion 12 fixed upon a shaft 125likewise mounted between the side members 9 of the yoke, and fixed uponsaid shaft 13 is a disc l lconstituting a rotor and supporting at itsperiphery a number of blades 15. The side members 9 of the yoke areprovided with rearward extensions which are indicated by the numeral 16,and these, in turn, are pro vided with upward extensions indicated, oneby the numeral 17 and the other by the numeral 18. The head 6. and itsside member extensions 17 and 18 are of sheet metal of a suitablestrength and the extensions, therefore, possess a greater or less degreeof resiliency, and the extension 17 is flat-sided whereas the extension18 is formed with a plurality of hen ds providing open-sided'.uoz-

zle embracing portions indicated by the numerals 19, 20 and 21, the opensides of these portions being presented toward the adjacent side face ofthe extension 17, and the hose nozzle, indicated in general by thereference letter N, being adapted to be disposed between the saidextensions and in position to be embraced by any one or another of thesaid portions 19, 20 and 21. By reference to the drawings, it will beobserved that the extensions 17 and 18 of the side members of the yoke6, and the disc or rotor l-l, occupy substantially the same verticalplane, and that the nozzle embracing portion 19 of the nozzle holdingdevice is inclined upwardly and forwardly so that a hose nozzle disposedtherein will be presented to direct a stream of water against the blades15, in an upward direction, thus effecting rapid rotation of the rotorand imparting rotary motion to the shaft 13 and, by way of the pinion 12and gear 11, to the shaft 10, for a purpose to be presently described.The nozzle engaging portion 20 of the nozzle holding device, is inclineddownwardly and forwardly, as will be observed by reference to Figure 1,so that when the nozzle is arranged therein, the stream of water will bedischarged in a more or less downward direction but, at the same time,will be directed against the blades 1:) and effect rotation of therotor, as before stated. The nozzle embracing portion 21 is arrangedhorizontally and somewhat above the blades of the rotor so that when thenozzle is arranged therein, the stream of water will be directedapproximately horizontally and will reach the ground without strikingthe blades 1:"). Qlormally, due to the inherent resiliency of the sidemembers of the yoke and the extensions 17 and 18 thereof, the extensionsare spread apart a sullicient distance to permit of the ready engagementof the hose nozzle in any one of the embracing portions 19, 20 and 21.In order that said extensions may be closed so as to clamp the nozzleand hold the same in the desired position, a bracket member 2 is fixedupon the outer side of the extension 17 and is of general rectangularform and embraces the two extensions with its unconnected side spaced asuitable distance from the outer face of the extension 18. Mounted uponthis side of the bracket, for rocking movement, is a clamp which mayformed of wire or rod material and is bent to provide side members 23, abearing cross bar 2%, a handle 25, and eyes 26 which pivotally engagethe said side of the bracket 22. The bar 2 -5.- is designed to rideagainst the outer face of the extension 18 when the handle 25 is swungupwardly or downwardly, and it will be observed the disposition of thebar and handle is such that when the handle is swung upwardly, the barwill ride away from the extension 18 and permit of the readyintroduction or removal of the hose nozzle, Whereas, on the other hand,when the said handle is swung downwardly, the bar 2% will ride againstthe outer face of the extension 18 and cause the said extension to exertclamping action against the hose nozzle disposed within any one of itsembracing portions 19, 20 and 21. In this manner, a simple means isprovided for arrangement and support of the hose nozzle in any desiredposition of angular adjustment.

The inrention contemplates means which will now be described, forconverting the rotary motion of the shaft it) into an oscillatory orhorizontal. swinging motion of the head (1 and the hose supporting orholding means associated therewith, so that the stream of waterdelivered from the nozzle of the hose may be directed over a relativelylarge area of the surface to be sprinkled. For this purpose there isprorided an arm 2. which is preferably of angle iron and is clan'iped.as at 2, to the upper end of the standard section 2 so as to be rigidwith respect thereto. The upper and lower flanges of the angle iron armare formed with sets of vertically alsned openings which are preferablythree in nuinbu', two of the sets being indicated by the numeral 29 andthe third set by the numeral 30. The openings in each flange arearranged in a series extending longitudiinilly of the respective flangenear the outer end of the arm, and corresponding openings are deed toaecomn'iodate stems 31 which are provided at the 10 end of a verticallydisposed guide member which is indicated in general by the numeral 32.Said .ide member is preferably formed from a it of rod material bent toprovide spaced parallel vertically extending side ineu'ibers 3 connectedat their upper ends by a bend 3-3: and having their lower end portionstwisted together as at 35 and then formed. to provide the said ster cThe openings 2!) and 30 are all equi-(.-."- antly spaced so me 3i matthat in one instance the engaged through the openings 29, trated inFigures 1 and $3 of the den and, in another instance, and underconditions, ma be engaged one in one setopcniugs 2i) and the other theeniugs 3%). In this manner, provision is rule supporting the 'de inupright po: ion upon the arm 2? at different distances from thestanea'i'd l of the device.

oi tne 'lhe nuinera ()0 indie tes a arm which is locat d at one end ofthe snaft l0 portion 40 radial to the said shaft and a portion 41outstanding from the end or" the portion 40 and likewise adapted to Workbetween the side members 33 of the said guide 39.. By reference to thedrawings, and particularly to Figure l and 3 thereof, it will. beobserved that the portion 37 of the arm 36 is otgreater length than theportion 40 of the arm 39, and the purpose of so proportioning theseparts will he presently explained.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the section 2 ofthe standard 1, and also the arm 27 carried thereby as Well as the slide32 are all stationary. Assuming now that the member 38 of the crank arm36 is Working in the slide 32 and that the hose nozzle has been disposedWithin either of the hose nozzle embracing portions 19 or 20 of the hoseholding means, and that Water is issuing from the nozzle, the streamwill strike the blades 15 of the rotor 14, resulting in rapid rotationof the shaft 10. As the shaft rotates, the portion 38 ot the crank arm36 Will Work between the side members 83 of the slide 32 and as theslide is stationary, and the head 6 supporting the hose holding means isrotatable With relation thereto about a vertical axis, the said head andits associated parts Will be oscillated. about i s vertical axis,thereby directing the stream of Water back and forth over a relativelyvvide area oi the surface to he sprinkled. It will also be understoodthat as the stream of Water issuing from the nozzle strikes the blades15, the stream will be broken up somewhat, so that the Water Will bemore equally and more Widely distributed. Also, it Will be evident thatthe stream may be delivered as a line stream or in more or less of aspray, by

adjusting the nozzle in the usual manner to eilfect a change in thecharacter of the stream, but that due to the proximity of the dischargeend of the nozzle to the blades of the rotor, the inter will, under allconditions, be rotated. It will be evident that by arran ing the hosenozzle in the embracing portion 3.9, the nozzle Will be presented in amore or less upwardly inclined direction and when disposed Within theembracinu; portion 20, Will be presented more or less downwardly, sothat by changing the nozzle from one to the other of the embracingportions, an area relatively remote from the device may first besprinkled, for example, and then an area nearer to the device may besprii'ikled or sprayed. lit Will also be evident that the device isuseful where it not desired to broadly distribute the stream but todirect the same upon a more or less restricted area, by adapting thehose nozzle in the embracing portion 21. If it should be desired tosomewhat restrict the width of the area over which Water is to bedelivered, this may be eliected by lifting the slide 32 to disengage itsbends ill from the openings 29 in which they Were engaged under thepreviously described operation and then rotating the head 6 about itsaxis through substantially ninety degrees and placing the slide 32 withits stems 31 engaging one in the openings and the other in the nextadjacent set ot the openings 2:), and engaging the portion ll of thecrank arm 35) in the said slide. The portion -10 of the said crank arm39 being of a length less than that of the portion 37 of the crank arm36, the angular movement of the head 6 will be of less de gree than inthe preceding adjustment of the parts. v aving 1. claim is:

l. in av thus described the invention, What device of the classdescribed, a relatively stationary member, a member HUPPUl'tCtl thereonfor oscillatory movement, means upon the oscillatory member forsupporting a hose nozzle, :1 i'luid-im 'iact rotor upon the oscillatorymember adapted to be operated through the medium of a stream oi waterdelivered from a hose nozzle carried by said nozzle supporting means, ashaft rotatably carried by said oscillatory member and having a crankportion at one end, moans operatively connecting said shaft and rotor tocause said sha'tt to be rotated by said. rotor, and a stationary guideelement carried by said stationary member and engaging said crankportion to cause oscillation of said oscillatory member during rotationof said shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, a relatively stationary member, amember supported thereon tor oscillatory movement, a. shaft mounted uponthe oscillatory member, a fluid-impact rotor upon the said oscillatorymember, means for transmitting rotary movement from said rotor to saidshaft, means upon said oscillatory member for supporting a hose nozzlein position to direct a stream of Water against said rotor and impartrotary movement to the rotor, a guide upon the stationary member, and acrank upon the said shaft coacting with the said guide to ellectoscillation of the oscillatory member through rotation of the shaft.

3. in a device of the class described, a relatively stationary member, amember supported thereby for oscillatory movement, a fluid-impact rotorupon the oscillatory member, means upon the oscillatory member forsupporting a hose nozzle in position to direct a stream of Water againstthe rotor and cause the rotor to be operated through the medium of astream of Water delivered from the nozzle, a shaft upon the oscillatorymember driven from the rotor, crank arms of ditlerent lengths upon theshaft, and a fixed guide upon the stationary member for the selectivecooperation of the crank arms therewith, whereby to impart oscillatorymotion to the oscillatory member through rotation of the shaft througharcs of (litterent lengths.

in a device of the class described, a relatively stationary member, amember .llpplli'tfitl thereon tor oscillatory movement, a fluid-impactrotor upon the oscillatory member, means upon the oscillatory member torsupporting a hose nozzle in position to direct a stream of water againstthe rotor and cause the rotor to be operated through the medium of astream of water delivered from the nozzle, a rotary shaft upon theoscillatory member, crank arms of different lengths upon the shatt, anarm extending from the relatively fixed member, and a giguide:uljustably supported upon the said arm whereby to occupy positions atditterent distances from the oscillatory member, the said crank armbeing interchangeably en- ;eageable with the slide whereby to effectoscillation of the oscillatory member through arcs of ditterent lengths.

In a device of the class described, a relatively stationary member, amember supported thereon for oscillatory movement, means upon theoscillatory member for supportii'ig a hose nozzle at various positionsof inclination, a fluid-impact rotor upon the oscillatory memberdisposed for operative engagement by a stream of water delivered from ahose nozzle carried by the nozzle supporting means, a crank shaftrotatably carried by said oscillatory member and rtated from said rotor,and a guide rigid with said stationary member and engaging a crankportion of said crank shaft for ettecting oscillation of saidoscillatory member as the crank shaft rotates.

(S. In a device of the class described, a relatively stationary memberhaving means whereby it may be anchored in the ground, a memberrotatably supported thereon for oscillatory movement and including ahead having spaced members provided with upwardly extending arms, thesaid arms constituting clamping members for engaging a hose nozzle, andone having nozzle-receiving pockets disposed one above another and atvarying angles, means for holding the arms in clamping engagement with anozzle disposed therebetween and within one of the pockets a rotormounted between the spaced members of the head and having bladesdisposed for engagement by a stream of water issuing from a nozzlesecured be tween said arms and coacting means upon the said fixed andoscillatory members oper ated through the rotor for effectingoscillation of said oscillatory member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT J. MITCHELL. [n s.]

